Published: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 10:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 10:29 p.m.

The 770-acre reservoir near Turkey Creek off State Road 60 south of Plant City is becoming a fish management area with specific rules for bag limits and slot limits for each species.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County reached an agreement to make what is commonly called Turkey Creek Reservoir a fish management area.

The FWC will likely create regulations similar to other FMAs like Tenoroc and Saddle Creek Park.

Medard has been restocked with 1.2 million fish by the FWC to rebuild the fishery after the reservoir was drawn down in late 2009 to repair a water-control structure.

The reservoir started refilling in the spring of 2010, and it has been open for catch-and-release fishing since the start of this year. Those temporary restrictions expire Jan. 1.

There will likely be good action for bass, speckled perch, panfish and catfish, but having been restocked with juvenile bass, don't expect any trophies for a few years.

The FWC held a public meeting on Wednesday night to gather input on the new fishing regulations.

Stay tuned for details on those regulations.

For information, call Paul Thomas of the FWC's Lakeland office at 863-648-3811.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

Billy and Michael Bechard won the Fishing Misfits classic on Lake Hatchineha Nov. 17 with 13 pounds, 1 ounce. Travis and Willie Finley took second with 9 1/2 pounds with the largest bass of 5 3/4 pounds. Mike McFarland and Ed Burkheimer placed third with 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

Don Smith and Ricky Timmerman combined for a 14.55-pound stringer on the Kissimmee Chain Nov. 18 to win the Lake Wales Po' Boys tournament. Steve Coleman and Keith Hadden finished second with 11.69 pounds. Dell and Jason Danes placed third at 11.53 pounds. Wayne Montgomery's 5.11-pounder was best of the day.

Robert Bishop and Lisa Henry won the ABA Couples tournament on Lake Kissimmee Nov. 10 with 14.19 pounds. Lisa's 4.07-pounder was the biggest bass for the women and overall. Gary and Linda Paul finished second with 10.96 pounds. Paul Braun boated the big bass among the men at 3.38 pounds.

Howard and Bo Tucker won the Sunday Open Series mini-classic on the south Winter Haven chain Nov. 18 with 12 pounds, 6 ounces. Jack Alward and Willard Combee placed second with 11 pounds, 7 ounces and the largest bass of 3 pounds, 9 ounces. Billy and Mike Bechard had 8 pounds, 11 ounces for third.

Willard Combee won an open tournament on the north Winter Haven chain Sunday with 10 pounds, 5 ounces. His 3-pound, 9-ouncer was tops. Kevin Wells and Duke Holley finished second with 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and third went to Frank Sylvester and Greg Connelly with 5 pounds, 11 ounces.

Mike Boswell won the 15-18 age group in the Lakeland Junior Hawg Hunters Classic on Lake Hatchineha Nov. 17 with 5 pounds. Bailey Guest finished second with 3 pounds. Austin Benenati took first in the 11-14 age group with 3 pounds. Jonathan Jones had 1 pound for second.

[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in The Ledger. He can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]

<p>Fishing regulations at Edward Medard Reservoir will change on Jan. 1.</p><p>The 770-acre reservoir near Turkey Creek off State Road 60 south of Plant City is becoming a fish management area with specific rules for bag limits and slot limits for each species.</p><p>The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County reached an agreement to make what is commonly called Turkey Creek Reservoir a fish management area.</p><p>The FWC will likely create regulations similar to other FMAs like Tenoroc and Saddle Creek Park.</p><p>Medard has been restocked with 1.2 million fish by the FWC to rebuild the fishery after the reservoir was drawn down in late 2009 to repair a water-control structure.</p><p>The FWC stocked about 200,000 bass, 300,000 bluegill, 74,000 shellcracker, 200,000 speckled perch, and 200,000 channel catfish.</p><p>The reservoir started refilling in the spring of 2010, and it has been open for catch-and-release fishing since the start of this year. Those temporary restrictions expire Jan. 1.</p><p>There will likely be good action for bass, speckled perch, panfish and catfish, but having been restocked with juvenile bass, don't expect any trophies for a few years.</p><p>The FWC held a public meeting on Wednesday night to gather input on the new fishing regulations.</p><p>Stay tuned for details on those regulations.</p><p>For information, call Paul Thomas of the FWC's Lakeland office at 863-648-3811.</p><p> </p><p><b>BASS TOURNAMENTS</b></p><p>Billy and Michael Bechard won the Fishing Misfits classic on Lake Hatchineha Nov. 17 with 13 pounds, 1 ounce. Travis and Willie Finley took second with 9 1/2 pounds with the largest bass of 5 3/4 pounds. Mike McFarland and Ed Burkheimer placed third with 8 pounds, 2 ounces.</p><p>Don Smith and Ricky Timmerman combined for a 14.55-pound stringer on the Kissimmee Chain Nov. 18 to win the Lake Wales Po' Boys tournament. Steve Coleman and Keith Hadden finished second with 11.69 pounds. Dell and Jason Danes placed third at 11.53 pounds. Wayne Montgomery's 5.11-pounder was best of the day.</p><p>Robert Bishop and Lisa Henry won the ABA Couples tournament on Lake Kissimmee Nov. 10 with 14.19 pounds. Lisa's 4.07-pounder was the biggest bass for the women and overall. Gary and Linda Paul finished second with 10.96 pounds. Paul Braun boated the big bass among the men at 3.38 pounds.</p><p>Howard and Bo Tucker won the Sunday Open Series mini-classic on the south Winter Haven chain Nov. 18 with 12 pounds, 6 ounces. Jack Alward and Willard Combee placed second with 11 pounds, 7 ounces and the largest bass of 3 pounds, 9 ounces. Billy and Mike Bechard had 8 pounds, 11 ounces for third.</p><p>Willard Combee won an open tournament on the north Winter Haven chain Sunday with 10 pounds, 5 ounces. His 3-pound, 9-ouncer was tops. Kevin Wells and Duke Holley finished second with 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and third went to Frank Sylvester and Greg Connelly with 5 pounds, 11 ounces.</p><p>Mike Boswell won the 15-18 age group in the Lakeland Junior Hawg Hunters Classic on Lake Hatchineha Nov. 17 with 5 pounds. Bailey Guest finished second with 3 pounds. Austin Benenati took first in the 11-14 age group with 3 pounds. Jonathan Jones had 1 pound for second.</p><p>[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in The Ledger. He can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]</p>